Feb 27, 2007

Saturday February 24th was Nolan's Second birthday. Where the heck does the time go?? He is quickly maturing into what my friend Laurie likes to call a 'Professional Two year old'. All the little ways that children figure out how to push your buttons are being taught to him by a whole community of young girls, especially his big sister. Nobody knows manipulation like a little girl, I'm sorry but it's true. A close second is a little brother of a little girl. The kids were up with their dad on Saturday and I slept in a little. After awhile I could hear a brawl coming my way via the stairwell. Nolan was the first to burst through my bedroom door, climb onto the bed and exclaim, "I had it first!". He was so careful to enunciate each word all I could do was burst out laughing. Saturday was his birthday (the 24th) and all I could think was "Terrible twos start now!". I think it's been slowly creeping up on me but I haven't picked up on it until recently.

For instance, Nolan was having trouble falling to sleep at night without me laying down with him. One night I put him down and he told me he wanted to pee in the potty. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to toilet train a willing participant, I whisked him out of bed and into the bathroom. As soon as his diaper was off I lifted him onto the toilet to a fury of kicking legs and screams. He had no intention of going on the pot, he just wanted to get out of his bed. Clever. Very clever and very two. Perhaps that is even at a three year old level, but that's just me thinking optimistically and pessimistically at the same time.

The new words are coming like a tsunami. Some of the cuter words are 'Supamans' for Vitamins, even though I know that he knows how to say vitamin, he just chooses not to. He calls Chocolate, 'Collette'. One day he kept asking for 'Cake' and for the life of me I didn't know what he was asking for (we NEVER have a cake just laying around the place) and finally it dawned on me. He wanted strawberry syrup in his milk (like his big sis) and he only knew of 'Strawberry Shortcake' which he shortened to Cake. Obviously the only reason I figured out that thought process is because he Shares my genes (and genius). Who else would be able to figure this stuff out?? Now I've taught him to call it 'Berry' so he can ask other people for it without confusing the crap out of them.He is also full of good manners and always says Thank you (that sounds more like 'Hank You'), even if there is nothing to be thanked for. He will keep saying it to you until you say 'You are Welcome!'. He also says Please a lot but not as much as the Thank yous. It's so dang cute and everyone loves a kid with manners. Especially the old ladies at the grocery store that pick up his bottle after he flings it across the aisle. They are always so Shocked at first and then gushing with smiles after he says 'Hank Yoou!!' in his sing songy voice. It's moments like that when I'm most proud to be his mom. I must be doing something right cause he's a pretty good kid, even if he is a two year old.Have I mentioned How much I love my little Boy?? Well, that description of Love (for both my kids) would take an entire blog on it's own to recount in the detail it so rightly deserves. But I'm sure you can glean it from between the lines.

Recently it was brought to my attention that Bobs and Lolo have come out with a new CD!! I've only had a brief chance to review the tunes but it all sounded good- just like the first CD. Please go and check out the site (if you haven't already) and if your interested in purchasing a CD or two for those little ones in your life, let me know, or drop a line at their website (let them know that I sent you!)

~jen

P.s. I'm working on a blog about Nolan's 2nd birthday that was on Saturday but life and Typepad maintenance keep getting in my way. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post it so keep your eyes peeled.

Feb 20, 2007

This morning has been surprisingly wonderful. It's surprising because I've been up since 4:45 (many thanks to my daughter for that) but I've taken the opportunity to relax, have a coffee and listen to some music before I have to get the kids up! Normally I'm not a morning person but once in a while... I'm just saying, it's nice.Anyway, I wanted to update you guys on the living room redesign progress. So far I've got the wall painted, and in case you didn't know I had to repaint the wall (again) due to the fact that the old paint washed off. And when I say washed off, I'm talking about wiping chalk off the black board- kinda washed off. It was insane, but I was able to change the colour choice a little and this one suits the room MUCH better. It's 'Blue Danube' by CIL, by the way. Along with finally completing the wall, I chose new fabric for my bench and dinning room chairs. The cool part about this fabric is that it's reversible. So I used the lighter, more blue pattern in the living room and used the reverse, more brown pattern on the dinning room chairs. It's a funky pattern, I like it. The only components I have left in the room are new lighting, new artwork, new area rug and decide on a new colour for the mantle. Shouldn't be too difficult, should it??

Other good news, if I haven't told you already, I sold a painting!! Remember 'Bird is the Word'?? Well he is gone to a new home in Georgia now. I was completely shocked to see a receipt from Paypal in my email box, thinking that Ken had purchased something from ebay. Upon closer inspection I realized it was a receipt for that painting. I was giddy with excitement, still am!

I want to send a 'shout out' to my good friend Tanya. She sent us the most fabulous valentine card. We think about you all the time Tanya- and can't wait to see you again! Thanks for making me feel special.

Okay I should be off, Paige is off to Preschool and I had forgotten it was Pancake day, I'm so jealous!! I should get to work before I putter out, because you know I will...

Feb 15, 2007

Feb 14, 2007

While having a conversation with Suz the other day, I let slip that Ken and I were both sleeping with our heads at the foot of the bed. At that moment I realized that it's time I blogged about some of the crazy ways hubby and I have adapted the night time ritual in order get the best night's sleep possible. We do some strange things. Due to the fact that we both have to have everything quite perfect to be able to fall asleep, we've tweaked things a little, for example, we each sleep with our own comforter. There is nothing worse than being startled awake by the covers being yanked from under your chin. Also I have a thing about my back being exposed. I like to have the blanket tightly hugged around my back and my neck. You know, for warmth. I also have a habit of stuffing a lot of blanket between my legs, I started doing it while I was pregnant and I still do it. As for Ken, he sleeps with two quilts- which sweats my already hot body out. These things take up a lot of 'quilted real estate' so you can understand the need for separate blankets.

Hubby also uses a fan. A fan, set on full speed. Right next to his head. Well, it's not actually next to his head, actually it's approximately 3 feet away from the foot of the bed but he wishes in was next to his head (even though he claims differently). That's where the 'sleeping backwards' with our heads at the foot of the bed comes in.

At First it was just Ken, sleeping in the normal position (head at the head of the bed), flopping around, longing for the 'Bahamanian Breeze' from his Hampton Bay turbo fan. In an effort to get closer to his beloved turbo fan without actually moving the fan, he flipped himself over. Now, this is great for him but it started to leave me feeling lonely at the head of the bed. You know, just me and Ken's feet. So I flipped over too. So now we are both sleeping with our heads at the foot of the bed. It's strange when I think about it now but when I climb into bed, I could care less what end of the bed I rest my head on. I'm usually beat. One of my weird quirks is actually called 'Restless Leg syndrome' and sometimes if I'm over tired i even get it in my arms. It's pure torture let me assure you. Let me rephrase that, if you have RLS and you are unable to shake your legs to relax, THEN it's PURE torture. Sometimes I drive Ken nuts but I haven't experienced much of it lately, which is good. If I lay down at night and I feel the 'electricity' feeling running through my arms, I have to actually get up and do push ups until my arms can absolutely push no more. That's the only way to get rid of the sensation. Crazy, I know, but I've been like this since I was a kid when I would rock my bunk bed to pieces.

Whatever it takes to be able to sleep in the same bed with my hubby. For the first 3 years of our marriage we slept in separate beds more often than not (mostly due to my RLS). When we moved to our current home we no longer had a guest bedroom for me to crawl into... so we were forced to sleep together and make it work and so far so good! The drugs the doc gave me have really helped to, i have never slept as good as I have lately. At least I haven't slept this good since before I had kids. Yes, THAT good.

Feb 05, 2007

Tonight, I'm forcing myself to sit down and blog right now. As of late I've been in the strangest frame of mind and I'm not entirely sure what it's all about. I'm most certainly not depressed, but I've been very irritable.

Maybe you remember my complaining about the mystery gall stones back in October? Well the scan for gallstones came up clear and the pain subsided just a little while I avoided certain foods etc. Lately the pain has been consistent regardless as to weather I'm eating food or NOT. My doctor and i discussed the possibility of me having IBS all the symptoms match up quite completely and she prescribed a medication called Dicetel. So far I've seen absolutely no difference in the amount of pain, i might even say I've had an increase in the amount of pain I'm feeling. If it were not for the prodigious doses of Advil, I would not be able to function at all.

I know that the nagging pains I feel during the day not only exhaust me (like two children underfoot aren't enough??) but make me very irritable towards everyone. It's hard to even sit here at the computer and think out a coherent sentence. You may have noticed the 'quality' of recent posts lacking because of this, and if you haven't noticed anything different... ignore that last bit.

It would be nice to know someone who has experience with this condition to compare notes, I've read a lot on the internet about it and it's all rather vague. So far I've been unable to manage the condition, but I have been able to manage the pain with constipating drugs...counter productive but very necessary I'm afraid. Anyone out there with a word of assistance please leave a comment- anything would be much appreciated!! I am staying positive, not wallowing in self pity. I prefer to take a proactive approach to this and get it solved.

Feb 03, 2007

Now there is proof that I love to share the goodness, 5 minutes for Mom is having a contest and all you have to do to enter is sign up on her post as well as link to it from your blog. How easy is that??? Easy enough for me to enter, that's what!

Go and try your luck... it's beautiful prize, and if I don't win I'll probably just buy myself some jewellery and pretend I won a contest when the package arrives!!

Feb 02, 2007

I seem to have been a little distracted this week and forgot all about preparing my 'Divine Dish' for this week's theme of 'salads'.

To be totally honest with you, this is what my usual salad consists of:

That's right, a bag of chopped romaine thrown in a bowl and drizzled with my NEW favourite salad dressing, Kraft 'Greek with Feta and Oregano' the calorie wise version, of course! Also if we happen to have pork chops, steak, or chicken for dinner I'll cut that up and throw it on top. I've been known to throw my spagetti and meat sauce right over top a bed of lettuce. It's just the way I like it, hot and cold.

If you are asking, "What the heck is 'Divine Dish'??" then you need to go HERE and check it out. Post a salad this week, if only because I desperately need your help!! I need Variety in my Salad life! I look forward to seeing all the ideas over at DD...